NSW: Whale tangled in fishing buoys

AAP General News (Australia)
08-02-2004
NSW: Whale tangled in fishing buoys

SYDNEY, Aug 2 AAP - Environmental officers have freed a whale entangled in fishing
buoys off the northern NSW coast today.

Rescuers cut floats and ropes from the adult humpback today and watched it swim south
towards Antarctic waters.

The whale was first spotted yesterday afternoon off Ballina, but rescue efforts had
to be called off due to failing light.

National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) spokesman Lawrence Orel said two boats with
four NPWS officers and two marine parks officers found the whale again today between Yamba
and Broomes Head.

"It was a very successful operation."

Mr Orel said after being cut free, the whale continued to head south and officers were
confident it would complete its migration to Antarctic waters.

He said there were no obvious signs of injury to the whale other than minor abrasions
from the ropes.

Mr Orel said the officers used a specially-made knife on a long pole to cut the buoys
and ropes off the whale.

"The knife element itself is quite small," he said.

"Essentially they're a knife that is a hook where (the knife) is the internal curve
that is actually sharp so they hook on and as they pull backwards the pressure cuts the
ropes.

"The idea is to make it safe for the whale and these can be operated from a safer perspective
from the boat rather than having to get in the water with the animal."

AAP evt/nf/sjb

KEYWORD: WHALE

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